Consultancy – the last bastion of meritocracies. Or so I thought.Promotions are in the air, so the young analysts are abuzz with the potential for salary increases, new business cards, and the hope that they may be able to go get a mortgage.Well, my young analyst friends, the air should not be abuzz, as it reeks of bullshit and ceremony. You are not being promoted because of your good work on that competitive market analysis, nor for the extra 800 hours you worked last year (averaging your salary lower than what you were making at your last summer job). You are being promoted (or not) due to the bullshit time based ladder climb.I can understand the time based ladder climb in offices where none of the analysts are grads from top B-schools across the country, but that is not the case where I hang my coat and flirt with the admin assistants. I am constantly impressed by the quality of work and dedication shown by new entrants to the firm.So why am I so choked up about this? I am of the Church of Adam Smith. The Wealth of Nations is my bible. Meritocracy is my religion. “The extent of your participation will be the measure of your reward” is my motto.This sort of gerontocracy is appalling for two main reasons: * We are forever competing with other firms for work. Why not put our best people forward? * “Doing your time” is not a legitimate career pathIn fact, Consultancy is starting to remind me of the Union environment - except unions have communists fighting for shorter working weeks, less stringent sexual harassment laws, and free drugs to help keep the delusion going.http://shakesonaplane.wordpress.com/
